America's Cup Nationality Rules

[safewalrus]

Got it in a nutshell Par - well said, totally agree, not that you'd get me to admit it of course!

[longliner45]

are the Americas cup likle the olympics? or is it the other way around ,,guns for hire? if it is like the olympics ,then they should be from national oregine if not then let democracy take its toll..hired guns to the highest bidder,

[PAR]

The Olympics also have a similar problem, though a bit more complicated. A competitor can train in the country that will provide the best opportunity to get world class status, use the best equipment, programs or funding, then can switch to the country they really wanted to earn the gold for in the first place. An example would be the top woman's singles skater trains in this country, with defected former soviet country trainers, who happen to be working with the USA (or formerly did) figure skating team, then represent the country of their heart's desire come Olympic games time.

Professionals have long been involved in the competitions, initially from the former soviet countries, but now every one is doing it. These "amateur" games haven't been this way for a long time. Remember the "Dream Team" of killer all pro basketball players we started using a couple of decades ago? Do you think they do it for the love of the game? Maybe the idea of representing their fine country, with a noble patriotic gesture? Nope, more likely that not, the huge commercial endorsement deals, that come with that level of media exposure, bring the Magic Johnson's (who was on the first USA Dream Team) out of the wood work.

And it's free enterprise, not democracy that makes these changes. Unless you ask a communist or strict socialist, who then call it capitalistic fodder, usually followed by a long winded explanation, on the down fall of western society, as a result of such practices.

[longliner45]

yes free enterprise! that is what makes the world go round,

[Guillermo]

No! It's love...!